The Washington critic., 1887-01-01

anu hnart0um. strangely enough,
the one fact that she did hear privately
namely, his having before leaving
England provided for the future of the
poor girl who had suffered so severely
from the suspicious that wero cast
upon her about the lost diamonds
only seemed to render her more in
censed against her erstwhile betrothed.
Six or seven years had passed since
the burglary at Langley, when one
night toward the end of the season
Miss Clifford Miss Clifford still, in
spite of her wealth and beauty, at a
large dinner, found herself introduced
TO "Col. Lo Merchant" by her host who,
ignorant of their previous acquaint.
ance, had been actuated by a benevo-
lent desire "to do dear old Dents
good turn" by making him acquainted
with the heiress.
The old lovers stood for moment
face to face In silence, scrutinizing one
another, the lady secretly, though not
trace of the hard work he had under.
gone escaped her; the gentleman
openly. He was the first to speak:
ut is long since we met, Miss
Clifford"
Not since we were together at Lang.
ley" she replied, softly.
Yes, when the diamonds were
stolen. / wonder If that business will
ever be cleared up2"
just then dinner was announced, and
the guests filed down in solemn pro.
Cession. Although Colonel lie Marchant
escorted Miss Clifford, her attention
was at first claimed by her other
Ia
had become sufficiently animated to
allow of private conversation, Colonel
lie Marchant turned toward her and
their eyes met.
What q wretched time that was"
he said, softly.
"At Langly, do you mean? Yes,
indeed 1t was, But was II not curious
how they found those diamonds"
Found them! you don't say so'' he
exclaimed, eagerly. when Do tell
me, please, Miss Clifford You see, /
only came home few day ago and have
heard nothing"
ooh! II is nearly year since Sir James
was out fishing with one of the boys,
when his line got entangled in the
branches Of an old tree which had
fallen into the river at some time. In
disentangling it they saw something
wedged In against the trunk of the tree
which, aftera little trouble, they fished
out. 1t proved 10 be the identical case
in which Lady Langley kept her dia
monds, and when 1t was forced open
there they were safe enough, and re.
ports which appeared later declared
| that the box must have laid there ever
since the night of the robbery. The
theory is that whoever stole 1t must
| have hidden lin the river bank, mean.
ing TO fetch 1t when the fuss had blown
over, but that the current swept 1t
away till the tree stopped 1t.
"Curiousp said Colonel lie Mar.
chant, slowly.
"Yes, is ii not?" she forced herself to
answer, quietly, for the strange eX-
| preston on her companions face
troubled her, she scarcely knew why.
II suppose there can be no doubt that
| II was some of the servants; though,
after such lapse of time, 1t would be
hopeless to try and bring II home TO any
one"
lie Marchant looked at her sharply,
and was just going to speak, when
their host interrupted him with some
question about the Soudan, and the
conversation became general till the
ladies retired.
Miss Clifford had sheltered herself in
the drawing room behind large port
folio of rare prints to think, undis-
turbed, over her unexpected meeting
with her old lover, when the subject
of her thoughts quietly came up and
took seat beside her.
81 can not tell you how glad | am
that those diamonds have been recov.
ered," he said
80 am l." she answered. "Do you
know, feel as If ! were clairvoyant
or something of the sort, for ever since
the robbery, whenever | have been at
all unwell, my nightmare has been
about those diamonds aud the river.
hear the rushing of the waters quite
plainly" she went on, dreamily, un
consciously dropping into the old tone
her companion remembered so well
81 wonder why it Isl"
II suppose 1t is because you really
hid the diamonds under the bank OF
Langley Water" was the startling
answer.
II hid the diamonds What or
earth do you mean? You must be
mad, Colonel Lc Marchant 7!
"No, l am not. saw you do 1t, u
he replied quietly.
you saw me do 1t Then why tc
goodness did you not say so at thu
time %
because was mad then, Cecil, ant
made horrible mistake"
you thought l stole the dia
monds ?"
lie was silent
Then that was why you were sc
keen about that poor little lady's
maid 2"
lie nodded.
"You believed-oh-and were try
ing to screen me all the time"
Forgive me, Cecil
"But do you mean that you actually
saw me take the diamonds sh(
asked in wonder. "Please tell mev'
Colonel lie Marchaut stopped ovel
the book of prints Miss Clifford was
ostensibly examining, and answered IL
a low voice; II had sat up late in tn,
smoking.room, worrying over somt
money troubles, when, startled to find
how late it was, | was retreating as 81
lently as could to my quarters. AS
was passing along the bedroom passage
l suddenly saw you in your dressing
gown come out of Lady Langley
room carrying tin box. InstinctiveIy
] drew back behind the curtain OF tht
staircase window, and you walked by
without noticing me. | followed yol
softly. You went to that little sid
door in the garden by the drawing
room, about which young Lovat hal
chailed Langley SO much, un
fastened it, and went ou
right across the lawn towart
the river, Then to my horror yor
went over the bank till / felt certalr
you would slip in, and was just rush